The Forbidden Alpha's Bond

The grand gates of Crescent Moon Academy stood tall, shining under the morning sun. Elena Sorin stopped in front of them, gripping the strap of her old, faded backpack. She had never seen anything like this before. The school looked like a castle, with its golden gates and polished stone walls. Students in neat, expensive uniforms walked past her, laughing and chatting. They didn’t even glance at her. To them, she was invisible. Elena adjusted her oversized blazer, a second-hand piece from the academy’s charity closet. The sleeves were too long, and the fabric was worn out, making her stand out even more. She tried to stay out of sight, but whispers reached her ears. “Look, it’s the scholarship girl.” “Why would they let someone like her in here?” “She doesn’t even talk. What’s the point?” Elena lowered her head, her heart sinking. She had heard it all before. She was mute—born without the ability to speak. People thought that made her weak or useless, and they treated her like she didn’t belong. She took a deep breath and walked inside. The grand hall was just as intimidating as the outside. Marble floors, high ceilings, and large mirrors made the place look like a palace. Elena caught her reflection in one of the mirrors. Her round face, framed by messy curls, stared back at her. Her hazel eyes looked nervous, and her cheeks were flushed from the cold air. Elena wasn’t skinny like most of the other girls. Her body was soft and curvy, and her clothes didn’t fit right. She didn’t look like the other students who seemed perfect in every way. “Elena! Move it!” Someone shoved her from behind, and she stumbled into the wall. Lila Morraine, one of the popular girls, smirked at her. Lila always looked perfect, with her sleek blonde hair and a designer uniform that fit her like it was made just for her. “Try not to embarrass yourself, Miss Nobody,” Lila said, laughing with her friends as they walked away. Elena clenched her fists but didn’t say anything. She couldn’t. Instead, she straightened her blazer and kept walking. --- The morning classes passed slowly. Elena struggled to focus as teachers talked about things she didn’t understand. Her classmates whispered and giggled, but no one talked to her. By the time lunch came, she was tired. She found a quiet corner in the dining hall, away from the gold-framed paintings and sparkling chandeliers. Pulling out a small sandwich from a brown paper bag, she hoped no one would notice her. But, of course, they did. “Still eating peasant food, I see,” Lila said as she and her group surrounded Elena. They all laughed, pointing at her simple sandwich. Elena looked down, her face burning with shame. “Leave her alone,” a deep voice said suddenly. Everyone turned. Standing a few feet away was Kael Draven, the academy’s fighting instructor. He wasn’t like anyone else at the school. He was tall and strong, with sharp gray eyes that seemed to see everything. His black hair was slightly messy, giving him a rugged look, and his voice was calm but commanding. Lila’s confidence wavered under Kael’s gaze. She quickly backed away, mumbling an apology before leaving with her group. Elena glanced up at Kael, her hazel eyes meeting his. He gave her a small nod, then walked away without saying anything else. For the first time, someone had stood up for her. --- In the afternoon, it was time for fighting class. Elena dreaded this class the most. The students gathered in an outdoor arena surrounded by tall trees and stone walls. Everyone wore training uniforms that fit them perfectly. Elena’s uniform, however, was baggy and awkward, making her feel even more out of place. “Pair up!” Kael’s deep voice rang out across the arena. Elena froze. She knew no one would want to work with her. “Guess I’m stuck with you, Miss Nobody,” said Marcus, a tall boy with a smug smile. He looked down at her like she was a joke. Kael walked around the arena, watching as students practiced. When he reached Elena and Marcus, he stopped. “Begin,” he said. Marcus moved first, charging at Elena with a confident grin. He clearly thought this would be easy. But to everyone’s surprise, Elena dodged. Her movements were quick and natural, almost as if her body knew what to do without her thinking. She stepped to the side and countered with a simple strike, catching Marcus off guard. The arena went silent. “Lucky move,” Marcus muttered, his face red with anger. He lunged at her again, but Elena moved gracefully, avoiding his attacks. She wasn’t even sure how she was doing it. It was like something inside her had awakened. Kael watched closely, his gray eyes narrowing. “Enough,” he said after a few minutes. Marcus stormed off, muttering angrily, while the other students whispered among themselves. Kael walked up to Elena, his expression unreadable. For a moment, she thought he might scold her. But instead, he simply said, “Interesting,” before moving on. For the first time that day, Elena felt something she hadn’t felt in a long time: hope. --- That evening, Elena sat by the academy’s fountain, staring at the rippling water. The moonlight reflected on the surface, making it look like liquid silver. She pulled out her notebook, the only place where she could express her thoughts. She opened it and began to write: “Today was different. For the first time, I felt like I wasn’t invisible. Maybe I’m not just Miss Nobody. Maybe there’s more to me than they see.” She closed the notebook and looked up at the stars. The memory of Kael’s piercing gaze stayed with her. He had seen something in her—something even she didn’t understand yet. The whispers and stares of the day still echoed in her mind, but they didn’t hurt as much as before. For the first time, Elena felt a spark of strength inside her. And sparks, she thought, could grow into flames. Elena’s journey was just beginning. She didn’t know what the future held, but she knew one thing for sure: she wouldn’t be Miss Nobody forever. The next day at Crescent Moon Academy started the same way for Elena. The hallways were filled with laughter and chatter, none of it meant for her. She walked quickly to her first class, hoping to avoid attention. But something had changed inside her after the fight with Marcus. She still felt nervous and out of place, but there was also a small, growing confidence she hadn’t felt before. As she entered the classroom, she spotted Lila and her friends sitting in their usual spot. Lila sneered at Elena, but this time, Elena didn’t lower her head. She didn’t look at Lila either; she just walked to her seat and sat down. The morning passed in a blur of lessons and notes. By lunchtime, Elena found herself back in her corner of the dining hall, eating another simple sandwich. She tried to ignore the stares, but it was hard not to notice people whispering about her. “Did you see her yesterday? She was amazing in the fight!” one boy said to his friend. “Yeah, but it was probably just luck,” the other replied. Elena pretended not to hear, but her heart raced. She had never been the center of attention before, even if it wasn’t all positive. --- After lunch, Elena made her way to the training arena. The day was warm, and the sun shone brightly over the academy grounds. She stood in the same spot as the day before, waiting for Kael’s instructions. Kael arrived, looking as calm and confident as always. His sharp gray eyes scanned the students, stopping briefly on Elena. She felt her cheeks heat up under his gaze but quickly looked away. “Today, we’re practicing defense,” Kael announced. “It’s not just about blocking attacks. It’s about reading your opponent, understanding their moves before they make them.” The students paired up again, and once more, no one wanted to team up with Elena. Before Marcus could step forward, Kael spoke up. “Elena, come with me.” The other students exchanged surprised looks. Elena hesitated for a moment, then walked toward Kael. “Stand here,” he instructed, motioning to a spot in front of him. Kael demonstrated a series of defensive moves, his movements smooth and controlled. Then he gestured for Elena to try. At first, she felt clumsy, her arms and legs not moving the way she wanted. But Kael was patient. He corrected her stance, guiding her hands gently. “Focus,” he said, his voice low but firm. “You’re better than you think.” Elena looked up at him, her hazel eyes meeting his piercing gray ones. His confidence in her felt strange but comforting. She nodded and tried again, this time feeling more sure of herself. --- As the practice continued, Elena began to improve. Her movements became sharper, her reactions quicker. Kael nodded in approval. “Good,” he said. “Keep that up.” By the end of the session, Elena was exhausted but proud. For the first time, she felt like she belonged, even just a little. --- That evening, Elena sat by the fountain again, her notebook open on her lap. The moonlight cast a soft glow over the academy grounds, making everything look magical. She wrote down everything that had happened that day—the whispers in the dining hall, the way Kael had helped her during training, and the small spark of confidence she felt growing inside her. As she finished writing, a shadow fell over her notebook. She looked up and saw Kael standing a few feet away. “Writing again?” he asked. Elena nodded, unsure of what to do or say—or rather, what she couldn’t say. Kael sat down on the edge of the fountain, his expression thoughtful. “You’re improving fast,” he said after a moment. “But you have a lot more potential than you realize.” Elena blinked, surprised by his words. She wasn’t used to anyone noticing her, let alone believing in her. Kael stood up, his tall frame towering over her. “Keep working hard,” he said. “You might surprise yourself.” With that, he walked away, leaving Elena alone with her thoughts. For a long time, she stared at the spot where he had stood. Then she looked up at the stars, her heart feeling lighter than it had in a long time. She wasn’t just a shadow anymore. Slowly, she was beginning to shine. And this time, she wasn’t going to let anyone dim her light.